Quote :

"This is my second time there and both times I had issues with my tab. The first time I caught it while I was there and got it resolved. This time I closed out my tab after every round, but after the 3rd round I decided to leave it open. When I went to close out my tab (2 beers ~ $11) the bartender said she couldn't find my name, so she would just charge me for the two cheapest IPAs on their list, wound up being around $10. Check my bank account the next day and I was charged for both rounds. Haven't called up there yet, and have a feeling it'll be more trouble than it's worth. Pisses me off because I wasn't at all in the wrong and told her the beers that I bought to help her locate my tab. "

just dispute it on your credit card. probably easier. just say you were double charged.

[Edited on August 3, 2015 at 9:23 AM. Reason : g]

8/3/2015 9:22:41 AM

I will come to their defense on the "have to close your tab to get a beer on a different level" complaint. It's probably the POS system and not the restaurant. Every POS system I've worked on didn't have the capability to have a seamless transfer of tabs between different bars and/or servers. You might have the same tab pull up on multiple screens at the same bar, but there is a pain-in-the-ass system to transfer tabs from bar-to-bar or bar-to-server. So they could essentially do that, but you would be creating a cluster-fuck of a situation that would probably get your tab lost as well as slowing down service in an already busy restaurant.

Restaurant POS systems are horrible and have marginally improved over the 10+ years I've been in the industry. It blows my mind that some tech/business-savvy restaurant veterans haven't come up with a new system that will blow everything out of the water.

Also....

Quote :

"Yes, it's big, but heck, seeing as we're hitting capacity on a regular basis clearly there was demand for such a location in town."

No offense, but that doesn't necessarily mean "demand". You just opened the "world's biggest beer garden"...you should stay packed for a month just with that alone. You also have two "names" behind it (yours and a well-respected local restauranteur)...put those two together and buzz will keep you going for a while.

[Edited on August 3, 2015 at 9:44 AM. Reason : .]

8/3/2015 9:43:22 AM

c'mon man, if you are going to be the resident bar expert you need to know that it's restaurateur, not restauranteur

8/3/2015 10:21:42 AM

8/3/2015 10:25:45 AM

I have no control over my iphone typing...especially when it recognizes that word.

8/3/2015 10:40:08 AM

you've spelled it wrong too many times

8/3/2015 12:36:12 PM

Twice?

8/3/2015 12:49:24 PM

Thanks for the notes/feedback. I check this thread on a regular basis and relay the key notes.

Logistically having the two floors was necessary just to get that many darned beers in.

8/3/2015 4:44:41 PM

Came back. The screens I couldn't read last week are broken now which was nice.

$6 Yuenglings made for pretty funny conversation and the sudden bursts of CO2 from the keg room gave the second floor a sweet "Mr Toad's Wild Ride" vibe.

8/3/2015 4:52:01 PM

yo cliffyb, whats the best way to try and get the $10 I was double charged back?

8/3/2015 4:52:43 PM

What have you attempted thus far?

[Edited on August 3, 2015 at 4:55 PM. Reason : V lol that's what i figured]

8/3/2015 4:54:21 PM

posting on the wolfweb about it

8/3/2015 4:54:56 PM

$6 dingalings? jesus, how much are PBRs?

8/3/2015 5:05:19 PM

If you were double charged call the bank, honestly, best way I'd wager.

8/3/2015 6:56:22 PM

Best way should be to call the restaurant. Any GM worth a shit should be able to refund your money or give you a gift certificate.

Just make sure you call at a downtime. Or come in with your receipt right at opening hours (or off-hours, I'm sure someone is there during the day when they're closed). It's obvious from your story that the bartender couldn't find your tab, but located it at the end of the night and just ran it through...or closed it at the beginning when you thought she was starting it. Either way...restaurant caused the problem, restaurant should fix it.

CliffyB, what is the POS you guys are using?

8/3/2015 8:11:30 PM

Since CliffyB has responded/commented in this thread I hope he doesn't mind us asking a few questions.

My big question: Are there plans to implement a system whereby a patron can order any beer (on both floors) from his server? Perhaps a beverage only dumb waiter system? Shuttling beers up and down the stairs is obviously impractical, but I feel like a dumb waiter system could work pretty well. (of course I've only given such a method only 30-60 minutes of thought).

2nd, smaller question: Eventually, will the prices for all beers be clearly posted? I'm not a cheap ass, but sometimes I like keeping the tab low and it would be nice to have a general idea of the cost (maybe a symbol key system could be implemented, like the one FS used to have).

Thanks in advance, and also thanks for building this place

[Edited on August 4, 2015 at 8:38 AM. Reason : ]

8/4/2015 8:38:27 AM

so it's like 3 separate bars on top of each other?

8/4/2015 8:58:15 AM

Putting draft beers on a dumb waiter sounds like a horrible idea.

8/4/2015 9:25:08 AM

CliffyB, have you considered allowing patrons to use cash and move about the facility?

8/4/2015 10:01:01 AM

^^Eh, not if it's designed for beverages.

^you trying to be funny? Because part of the appeal of having a waitress server is her them getting drinks for you in a timely manner. Not having to get up from your table and then waiting at the bar for 10+ minutes.

[Edited on August 4, 2015 at 11:18 AM. Reason : no sexism here!]

8/4/2015 11:17:03 AM

The last large beer garden I examined in depth was The Temple Bar. Multi-level establishment, variability in counter offerings, servers were tied to the level, currency flows easier there, and i think pub culture doesn't assume full table service at all times.

Hope this helps!

[Edited on August 4, 2015 at 12:57 PM. Reason : .]

8/4/2015 12:55:04 PM

Raleigh Beer Garden should accept dogecoin.

8/4/2015 1:09:14 PM

Quote :

"we've got Jon Taffer over here."

I lol'd

going with a couple friends tonight - but after reading some of y'all talk about how long the line was i'm not as excited about going.

8/7/2015 4:08:18 PM

Put your name in for a table when you get there, then go grab beers and drink at the bar. Not a huge deal, plus with today's mild weather sitting outside will actually be a desirable thing to do. And you don't have to wait for outdoor seating (though it's worth mentioning that servers don't service patrons sitting outside.

8/7/2015 4:22:57 PM

^ahh gotcha. thanks.

8/7/2015 5:47:24 PM

^^Did they just change that? The first week I sat outside and had a server coming out to check on us and bring us drinks the whole time we were there. Only really went inside to check things out, didn't have to go inside to get a beer.

8/8/2015 11:28:50 AM

definitely enjoyed the beer garden last night. like i said a few posts up...hadn't been before. really neat set up and tons of beer selection (probably too many, but who care)

8/8/2015 3:00:44 PM

I went on Thursday afternoon.

The online menu would be improved if you could sort by beer type.

The burger I ate made me ill.

I don't think I'm going back any time soon.

P.S. Parking downtown is way easier than Glenwood South.

[Edited on August 8, 2015 at 8:50 PM. Reason : +]

8/8/2015 8:47:42 PM

Went for lunch on Saturday on a day trip to Raleigh. Got seated at the reserved area table service in the same room as the liquor bar (was the tree already there before construction?). Felt like I needed a pipe while sitting there. Food menu is fairly simplistic, but keeping it simple is probably best for now. Got the sausage & pepper pizza and it was pretty good, the gf got the local sausage plate and she seemed to enjoy it. Having to use your phone to look at the draft beer list was ok, but I can see the technologically inept crowd having a difficult time with this. Got the Olde Hickory Black Raven & Frog Level Salamander Slam IPA and both tasted cold and fresh (both were $4.50/pint). The manager at the time came by to see how our experience was and we noted how impressed we were with the whole set up and how much the area has changed in just a few years (especially since I moved in 2008). Upstairs & downstairs bars were pretty impressive---seeing all those taps on the wall blew my mind! Plenty of seating, but they were steadily filling up while we were there (mostly around the bar areas). It's a fanastic place that I wish was there when I was in school!

BTW, is there any method to the employees having different t-shirt colors?

8/9/2015 8:26:26 AM

Went last night around 9:30. It was really cool to look at. The Beer bars were slammed, but managed to get a drink at the liquor bar. The service seemed to be a cluster, but I don't really think you can be very organized with that many people freely wandering around. When we left there was a line of like 100 people waiting to get in.

My only thought.. What the hell happens to that place when it gets cold outside? They have a ton of outside square footage.

8/9/2015 9:26:41 AM

its like they made this place with the mindset that they want to make it as difficult as possible for me to give them money. i do not like that.

8/9/2015 2:22:26 PM

Went on Friday during lunch time so not crowded at all sat upstairs had quite a few beers with no problem and had the pretzels which are HUGE and different but good. The wife and I enjoyed it but on Saturday walked by and saw how pack and crazy it can be so obviously we just passed and went to other places. Would go back again next time we make it to Raleigh.

8/9/2015 8:38:10 PM

I rode by Saturday evening just to see how packed it was. Ended up having dinner at Big Boom and then drinks elsewhere. I'll check it out but it'll probably be during the day on my next trip up.

8/10/2015 8:06:38 AM

It's a great day bar, especially the upper floor. Like the variety of seating options and how airy it feels. Good beer selection. Menu system on the TVs is not very convenient though.

8/16/2015 6:29:45 PM

>>My only thought.. What the hell happens to that place when it gets cold outside? They have a ton of outside square footage.

Patio heaters.

Niall's folks installed them at the Station, on a chilly night you can sit at the bar still.

8/19/2015 3:50:15 PM

stopped in for a beer yesterday at lunch...it wasn't very busy

woman charged me $1 more for my beer than the screen said it should cost...i gave her a good tip, anyway

that's all i've got

8/19/2015 3:58:17 PM

I haven't been yet, but in talking with some friends who have, it sounds like there's a chance to do some cool stuff with the online menu.

Quote :

"The online menu would be improved if you could sort by beer type."

In addition to this, it would be awesome to sort and filter by brewery, location/state, %ABV, price, etc. The info is already there.

8/19/2015 4:12:17 PM

First time going tonight - any recommendations?

10/1/2015 8:01:34 PM

Double post

[Edited on October 1, 2015 at 8:25 PM. Reason : .]

10/1/2015 8:25:07 PM

Try the yuengling

10/1/2015 8:44:53 PM